The Impact of Social Stratification on People’s Opportunities and Quality of Life

Prosperity is a universal aspiration for every individual and country, often challenged by the reality of entrenched social inequality. The purpose of this qualitative research in the form of a desk study is to identify and explore the impact of social stratification on access to education, employment, resources, and the implications for people's health, well-being and life satisfaction. Indonesia, despite officially recognizing the principles of welfare, is still grappling with various obstacles that hinder the achievement of an equitable quality of life for its citizens. Poverty, economic disparities, and limited access to health and education services are the main challenges that widen the gap between communities. The academic concern is that social stratification, which acts as a grouping of people based on economic status, education or power, inherently reinforces inequality. Theoretically, this research reinforces the idea that social stratification is not simply a hierarchical division, but a dynamic system that fundamentally shapes and perpetuates social inequality.